Two held for trying to extort Rs 25 L

Officers from the Anti-Extortion Cell arrested two people on Saturday for trying to extort Rs 25 lakh from a leading pathologist in the city. The arrested people were identified as Sanjay Govind Warghade and Prasad Bhikaji Wagh (27).

The police said on Thursday the duo had threatened a doctor (name withheld to protect identity) while impersonating Sharad Mohol, the accused in gangster Kishor Marne's murder, who was released on bail earlier this year.

"We are investigating whether the two arrested are connected with Mohol," Additional Commissioner of Police Anant Shinde said. The police said the two had called up the pathologist and demanded Rs 25 lakh. On Friday, after the doctor received another call, he approached top police officials. After this, a trap was laid and the two nabbed near Yerawada Central Jail.

Shinde said Warghade had two cases under Section 324 of IPC (voluntarily causing hurt by dangerous weapon) against him; both cases are registered with Paud police station. The police said Wagh was a nephew of Pandurang Marathe, who was arrested in Balu Marne's murder two years ago.

Crime Branch officials said the two were arrested when they had gone to meet Marathe. Police Inspector Sachin Sawant and Constables Mahadev Dimble, Anil Shinde, Nagnath Gavali, Pandurang Wanjale, Ganesh Mali and Balasaheb Jarad were among those in the police team that caught them. Produced before the holiday court, the two were remanded in police custody for two days.